Teen arrested for allegedly torching priest's car in Satna, MP

Satna : A 18-year-old teen has been arrested in Satna's Madhya Pradesh for allegedly torching a car belonging to a group of priests.

Right-wing Hindutva activists attacked Catholic carol singers on Thursday, accusing them of religious conversion.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening. Instead of taking action against the attackers, the police detained the carol singers, a Catholic priest said.

Father Rene Verghese told IANS on Friday: "A group of students training to become priests was moving around Satna town, visiting Christian institutions and singing carols. 

"Some 15 km from here in Dara Kalan village church they were getting ready for the Christmas celebrations, when a group of people attacked them, accusing them of carrying out religious conversion."

Verghese said the Hindu group raised slogans and called up the Civil Lines Police Station.

All 32 carollers, accompanied by two priests, were taken to the police station. Eight priests who later went to the police station to enquire into the matter were also taken into custody, he said.

The mob attacked the Christian students inside the police station, and set fire to the priest's car parked outside.

(IANS with added inputs)